The team coach might have arrived late but there was nothing wrong with Michael Owen's timing. Having returned to the starting line-up after missing two matches with a hamstring injury, the England striker struck twice here to give Graeme Souness's side their third win in eight days, two of them in the league.

The Newcastle manager could even afford the luxury of leaving Alan Shearer on the substitutes' bench, a policy that backfired on both Sir Bobby Robson and Ruud Gullit, though yesterday the consequences of the decision were entirely positive as the veteran striker added a late third to seal an impressive second-half display.

"Some fine goals from Michael and Alan; no surprise there," said Souness. "They're as good as it gets at scoring goals out of nothing. We are fortunate to be a club that can afford players like that."

Owen must wish that he could play at The Hawthorns every week. On his last visit here, back in April 2003, he scored four times in a 6-0 Liverpool victory and, although Newcastle did not deserve to win by that margin yesterday, Owen might easily have equalled that tally. Tomasz Kuszczak made a smart save at the near post in the first half to deny the former Real Madrid forward while Junichi Inamoto headed another Owen effort off the line shortly after the interval.

Albion, though, were not without their own chances and might have found a way back into the game had Shay Given not produced a fantastic save to deny Robert Earnshaw shortly after Owen's opener. It was at the opposite end, however, where the home side appeared hopelessly out of their depth as poor marking allowed Newcastle to put the match beyond their reach. Indeed Bryan Robson's players were so embarrassed with their second-half defensive showing that Neil Clement and Darren Moore came forward afterwards instead of the Albion manager.

"I think I am speaking on behalf of the players when I say we want to take the blame," said Moore. "We have to hold our hands up today; it's nothing to do with the gaffer. That second half doesn't reflect what the manager is all about.

"The gaffer is disappointed because it was individual mistakes that cost us the game and as a defender playing back there I have to shoulder some of the responsibility. I am gutted and disgusted."

The second half was only 22 seconds old when Albion made their first error. Shola Ameobi picked up possession midway inside the West Brom half before finding Charles N'Zogbia in space on the left. The young midfielder, given far too much room, delivered an inviting ball towards the near post where Owen nonchalantly flicked a close-range volley past Kuszczak after Moore lost his footing. The breakthrough, though, appeared to enliven Albion as much as it did Newcastle, with Earnshaw threatening three times in the space of 10 minutes.

A twisting run culminated in Given saving at the near post while moments later Earnshaw agonisingly failed to connect with Jonathan Greening's right-wing cross. The turning point, though, was when Inamoto's powerful drive struck Steven Taylor before dropping at Earnshaw's feet, but the forward's shot from no more than eight yards was superbly beaten away by Given. "It could have been a very different game if that had gone in," said Souness. "It was a great save."

The Newcastle manager responded by summoning Shearer and Kieron Dyer from the bench. Dyer tricked his way past Moore on the right wing before cutting an acute cross into the path of Owen who, having again made a darting run to the near post, hooked the ball past Kuszczak for his fourth Newcastle goal in four games. Newcastle fans were still celebrating when Shearer scored to move within three goals of Jackie Milburn's club record.

A patient build-up in which Owen played a part saw Nolberto Solano switch play to pick out Peter Ramage on the right. The full-back, in a move remarkably similar to those which produced Newcastle's first two goals, struck his cross towards the corner of the six-yard box where Shearer got in front of the hapless Moore to prod home, leaving Albion facing the clear prospect of another relegation battle.